The Vegetarian by Han Kang

The Vegetarian by Han Kang is unlike any book I have ever read before. The story starts out when the main character, Yeong-hye, decides that she no longer wishes to consume meat, and, eventually, any animal products. This decision is not welcomed by her husband, sister, father, mother, or other extended family members. They constantly tease her, try to force her to consume that which she does not want, and commit her to an asylum for the mentally ill.

The story itself is broken into three segments, representing a different perspective. The first (and my favorite) is from Yeong-hye's perspective and  you have a firsthand account of the abuse she endures from her family and strangers. You are also given a small glimpse into her mental state. The second part is told from the perspective of her sister's husband, who is attracted to her.  In this section, you8 see some sympathy, but Yeong-hye is abused and used in a different fashion. In the final segment, her sister grapples with the family's decision to place Yeong-hye in an asylum and the results.

Usually, I am not a fan of translations, but the title, cover, and description caught my eye. While not the best book I have ever read, it was a really, really good book. I do disagree, however, with the books portrayal of vegetarianism/veganism as a mental illness. But, I would still recommend this book to the right person. 

**I received a free copy of this book for review from Blogging for Books.**

Street Vegan by Adam Sobel

I absolutely LOVED this cookbook. As a vegan, I am always looking for cookbooks that appeal both to other vegans and non-vegans alike. This is a beautiful cookbook with lots of great recipes. I love that all the recipes are fairly easy, despite the long list of ingredients.
The first recipe I made was "Mint Matlock Takes All His Clothes Off." I did have to substitute pecans for the caocoa nibs, since those could not be found at any of my local grocery stores. They were delicious cookies. They were like a mix between a Thin Mint and a brownie. They were a little rich for my taste, but I enjoyed them with a glass of almond milk.
The next recipe I plan on trying is the Spinach Pie. I am really looking forward to trying this for breakfast. Sobel suggests it as an appetizer, but I love having vegetables for breakfast. The recipe seems straightforward, with suggestions for advance preparation, alternative seasonings, and suggestions for reheating.
Overall, this cookbook is great. The one downside is that there is not a picture for every recipe, but it does not in any way harm this book. I look forward to spending a lot of time in the kitchen with family and friends making delicious food from Street Vegan.  I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Mint Matlock Takes All His Clothes Off cookies.

**I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books for 100% unbiased review.**